Recycling Best Practices—A Guidebook for Advancing Recycling from Aircraft Cabins (2013)

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34 Successful recycling programs rely on active and ongoing participation from employees, management, contractors, and passengers. Airlines, airports, and flight kitchens with successful programs make recycling part of everyday business by providing these participants with the edu- cation, training, and institutional support needed to sustain momentum and high performance. They also recognize participants’ efforts and share program achievements with other stakeholders and the public. Why Is This Practice Important? Education, training, and institutional support for recycling serve to build awareness, buy-in, coordination, and consistency for recycling participants. The result is recycling programs with longevity, as well as higher levels of participation, improved efficiency, increased revenue, and reduced disposal costs. By publicly recognizing participants’ efforts and sharing program achieve- ments, organizations demonstrate their commitment to recycling and green business practices. Key Steps to Make Recycling Part of Everyday Business and Celebrate Achievements This section presents four steps for airlines, airports, and flight kitchens to make recycling part of everyday business and celebrate success: 1. Incorporate recycling into new and ongoing employee training. 2. Embed recycling expectations into service standards and contracts. 3. Recognize and reward employees and other program participants who contribute to recycling. 4. Share results and celebrate achievements with program participants and the public. Best Practice #5. Make Recycling Part of Everyday Business and Celebrate Success Recycling as a Part of Everyday Business Albuquerque International Sunport management has initiated mandatory monthly trainings for employees on the subject of recycling and sustainability. Training also takes place when a new initiative is launched that relates to recycling or sustainability. Alaska Airlines flight attendants share recycling best practices and updates through a company-wide email listserv.

Best Practice #5. Make Recycling Part of Everyday Business and Celebrate Success 35 Step 1: Incorporate Recycling into New and Ongoing Employee Training Airlines, airports, and flight kitchens with successful recycling programs have incorporated recy- cling education into the new employee on-boarding process. By doing so, they are demonstrating that recycling is an everyday business practice, a company priority, and a norm. The following are examples of topics that can be included in new employee training: • Sustainability and environmental commitments and goals • Overview of programs, awards received, and waste reduction or cost savings achieved • Review of specific materials covered by the recycling program • Collection and handling procedures specific to each position, including flight attendants, cabin service crews, terminal maintenance personnel, and others • Opportunities for further engagement, such as Green Teams and email listservs • Recognition and awards the organization has received Regular and ongoing training is critical to sustaining participation; coordinating efforts over time; and providing updates on corporate priorities, new materials, and procedures. Successful recycling programs foster ongoing engagement with employees, managers, and contractors using many different approaches, such as the following: • On-the-job training and coaching from supervisors and managers • Updates at regular station or staff meetings • Posts on email lists and blogs or in employee break rooms • Employee newsletter articles • Green Team meetings or communications Leading airlines and airports have also initiated interdepartmental Green Teams to engage motivated employees and managers, coordinate efforts across the organization and industry, and inform program developments. Please see the Best Practice #1 section for more details about Green Teams. During new employee orientation, Southwest Airlines flight attendants learn that recy- cling is part of routine cabin duties. Employees also receive recurring training through safety refresher courses at least once a year. Delta Air Lines flight attendants are introduced to recycling policies and standards during new employee orientation through recycling literature, printed handouts on Delta proce- dures, and hands-on peer teaching. A Training Partnership Once a month, college interns provide one-on-one recycling training to tenants at Portland International Airport (PDX) on the airfield and in the terminal areas. This partnership supports recycling at the airport and provides meaningful, skill- building experience for the students.

36 Recycling Best Practices—A Guidebook for Advancing Recycling from Aircraft Cabins Step 2: Embed Recycling Expectations into Service Standards and Contracts Airlines with successful recycling programs often have incorporated recycling responsibili- ties into flight attendant service standards and into contracts with cabin service contractors, contracted carriers, and flight kitchens. Doing this helps to sustain institutional commitment, even as individual champions and leaders change. It also provides motivation and structure for employees and contracted crews to share their knowledge and train fellow crew members in the procedures required for continued success of the program. All of Alaska Airlines’ flight kitchens are expected to recycle. Standard recycling require- ments are included in flight kitchen agreements (see Appendix C for specific language). Alaska Airlines has an in-flight service standard committee, composed of 12 flight atten- dants who meet twice each year to provide input and requests to flight kitchens. Some requests relate to sourcing recyclable materials as well as further collaboration for increas- ing recycling of waste materials generated in flight. Step 3: Recognize and Reward Employees and Other Participants Who Contribute to Recycling Some airline recycling programs were originally started by flight attendants who contributed proceeds from the sale of aluminum cans to emergency or recreational funds. Some airlines today donate a portion of recycling proceeds to charitable causes or give back to the employees who contribute to the program’s success. Many participants take their recycling efforts and leadership to the next level because they are motivated by the knowledge that they are contributing to a better world. Others prefer a little friendly competition. Leading airlines and airports are responding to these motivations with: • Recycler of the month or year awards for frontline employees • A recycling fund for employee emergencies, charitable causes, or recognition events • Competitions between departments or crews for making the greatest progress in reducing waste, increasing recycling, or both Delta Air Lines has used proceeds from in-flight aluminum can recycling to build two Habitat for Humanity homes, with more planned in the future. Through regular waste assessments, Alaska Airlines’ in-flight department can determine which flights have exemplary recycling results. Attendants on those flights receive gift cards as a reward for their contributions. Flight attendants are also invited to participate in the waste assessments, gaining special recognition within the company for their assistance. In 2010, American Airlines recycled an estimated 15 million aluminum cans. Recycling revenue is directed to the company’s Wings Foundation, an employee emergency fund that provides assistance to employees affected by natural disasters, illness or injuries, or other financial hardships.

Best Practice #5. Make Recycling Part of Everyday Business and Celebrate Success 37 Airports and airlines can also use these tools to recognize the contributions of partner orga- nizations, such as flight kitchens and cabin service crews. For example, in 2010, Sea-Tac Airport initiated an annual “Green Gateway Environmental Excellence” award to recognize airport tenant environmental efforts, including recycling leadership. Step 4: Share Results and Celebrate Achievements with Program Participants and the Public Airlines, airports, and flight kitchens with successful recycling programs regularly share accomplishments and highlight areas needing improvement with key recycling participants within their organizations. This feedback can serve to inspire employees and contractors to sus- tain and improve on their recycling efforts. Airlines, airports, and flight kitchens also share progress with the public through in-flight publications, annual reports, press releases, and other communications. These actions demon- strate corporate commitment to recycling and green business practices. They also provide the opportunity to generate positive media coverage and build goodwill among customers, investors, other stakeholders, and the public. Some effective strategies for publicizing results include the following: • Sharing visual depictions of the organization’s progress toward meeting recycling goals, such as graphs that present recycling rates or the percentage of total waste reduced • Posting photos of successful recycling in action • Highlighting stories of individuals who have made significant contributions to the organiza- tion’s recycling program • Sharing an annual report on sustainability or corporate social responsibility that summarizes recycling achievements and progress toward goals. Airlines, airports, and flight kitchens can gain recognition for their recycling achievements— from environmental leadership awards, to publicity in industry and mainstream media. Airlines Gain Recognition for Achievements In 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded its WasteWise Gold Achievement Award to Delta Air Lines in recognition of the airline’s commitment to educating employees on the importance of recycling. In 2010, the American Forest & Paper Association recognized Continental Airlines (now United) as an industry leader in paper recycling by awarding the airline its Business Leadership Recycling Award. Regional Recognition Alaska Airlines received the 2010 Green Gateway Environmental Excellence award from Sea-Tac International Airport, recognizing the airlines’ outstanding recycling efforts, among other environmental achievements. In 2011, Alaska was awarded Seattle Business Magazine’s Green Business Award for leading the industry with its in-flight recycling efforts and reducing its carbon footprint.